HUMR1603 – Freedom of Religion or Belief: Core Norms, Contemporary Controversies and Dilemmas
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Focusing on contemporary legal and political developments as well as recent scholarly contributions, this course studies:
- core human rights norms for protecting the freedom of religion or belief that are codified in international law
- permissible restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and
- the relationship of freedom of religion or belief to other human rights.
The course will address tensions between freedom of religion and the rights of women and of lesbian and gay people to protection against discrimination. Also to be discussed are the dilemmas that may arise in conflicts between heed for hegemonic or minority religious traditions and protection of civic and personal autonomy. Finally, the course will address protection of intergenerational transfer of religious knowledge and sensibilities in present-day, multi-religious social contexts, sorting out advantages and limits of drawing on human rights norms and mechanisms. The course will include a study of selected recent decisions of the U.N. Human Rights Committee and case law from the European Court of Human Rights, and scholarly discourse about these decisions and cases.
Learning outcome
This course will provide an opportunity to attain general understanding of the human right to freedom of religion or belief by studying pertinent provisions and cases in light of scholarly discourse and public debates. You will learn about the need, triggered in part by the growing public standing of human rights based on equal and inherent human dignity and freedom, for religious reinterpretation and reform when dealing with far-reaching societal changes and increased cultural complexity.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is open for all bachelor students, students with admission to single courses, students with admission as guest students
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
none
Recommended previous knowledge
Students with no background in human rights studies are strongly advised to prepare in advance the recommended readings.
Teaching
Lectures and seminars with active student participation.
Examination
Written examination. Pass/Fail.
Other
This course is a bachelor version of the master course HUMR4603 – Freedom of Religion or Belief: Core Norms, Contemporary Controversies and Dilemmas (discontinued).